Key Highlights
- Honda has officially confirmed a new sub-4m SUV for India. Launch is expected in 2028.
- It will be Honda’s return to the compact SUV segment after the WR-V was discontinued in March 2023.
- A new mid-size SUV has also been confirmed for the same period.Â
Honda has finally said it out loud. The Japanese carmaker confirmed a brand new sub-4m SUV for India at its global financial results press conference on May 14, 2026. Honda Global CEO Toshihiro Mibe made the announcement. India was named alongside the US and Japan as one of Honda’s three priority markets.
Honda has not had a compact SUV in India since the WR-V was discontinued in March 2023. That gap has cost it dearly in a segment that drives the most volume in the Indian market.
Honda admits it got India wrong
The most interesting part of the announcement was what Honda said about its own mistakes.
Mibe acknowledged that Honda’s global product development approach may not have been right for India. “The global standard approach may have been somewhat excessive for India,” he said. The company also admitted it has not had enough competitive models across key segments.
That is a frank admission. And it explains why Honda has been losing ground in India while rivals like Tata, Mahindra, and Hyundai have been growing.
What to expect
No specifications have been shared yet. Honda says the new compact SUV will be built specifically for Indian buyers, with a focus on practicality, value, and the right price.
The sub-4m segment is crowded. The new Honda will go up against the Tata Nexon, Mahindra XUV 3XO, Maruti Brezza, Hyundai Venue, and the next-gen Kia Sonet. Honda will need to offer something compelling to stand out.
A hybrid powertrain is possible, given Honda’s current direction in India with the City Hybrid and ZR-V. But nothing has been confirmed.
The sub-4m SUV is one of two new SUVs Honda confirmed for India. A mid-size SUV is also in the pipeline for 2028. Both are part of a 10-model roadmap for India by 2030, with seven of those expected to be SUVs.
Also read: Upcoming Hyundai Bayon-based SUV spied testing, gets crossover styling
